Fire-escape



UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES D. CARR, OF SAUK CENTRE, MINNESOTA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,091, datedSeptember 23, 1890.

Application filed July 3, 1890. Serial No. 357,637. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES D. CARR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sauk Centre, in the county of Stearns and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fire-escapes, and has for its object toprovide a simple and efficient mechanism that can be relied upon whenrequired to effect a desired result, and which will be compact in itsarrangement and under the control of the person escaping so as toregulate the descent, or which may be controlled from the ground for alike purpose, as required.

The improvement consists of the novel construction and combination ofthe parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, andspecifically pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention.Fig.2 is a cross-section showing the operation of the brake mechanism bydotted lines. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line X X of Fig. 2,looking down, parts being broken away.

The frame comprises the vertical section A, the lower platform B, theupper platform 0, and the cross-bar D. The grappling-hooks E are appliedto the upper end of the vertical section A, and are adapted to engagewith the window-sill or a suitable cross-bar provided in thewindow-casement or any convenient part of the building to which thedevice is to be applied. The shaft F is journaled at its end in suitablebearings on the end bars of the platform C, and is provided at each endwith windlasses or drums f and g. The brakewheel II is secured on theshaft F, intermediate of the drums or windlasses f and g, and is commonto each, forming the inner ends thereof. The ropes I and J are securedat their upper ends to the windlasses or drums, and are reversely woundthereon, being provided at their lower or free ends with the baskets Iand J The brake-levers K and K are pivoted near their upper ends to theupper platform 0 at points diametrically opposite the brake-wheel. Thebrake-shoes k and k are pivotally connected with the upper ends of thebrake-levers, and are arranged to press on the brake-wheel atdiametrically opposite points. The lower ends of the brakele vers areconnected by the toggle-leversL and L. The lever M, pivoted between itsends to the lower platform, is connected at its inner end with thetoggle-levers by the linlom. The weight N, at the outer end of the leverM, operates to disengage the brake-shoes from the brake-wheel, whereasthe weight 0 operates to apply the brakes and hold the windlasses fromrotation against any normal weight in either of the baskets. The weight0 is superior to the weight N, and is connected with the lever M by thecord 0, which passes over a sheave or pulley P on the upper end of thepulley. The cord 0 is of sufficient length to extend within a shortdistance of the ground, so that the brake mechanism may be under thecontrol of a person on the ground and of the person in the basket at anypoint in his descent.

The lever M is deflected at its inner ends so as to come as near theplane of the togglelevers as practicable, thereby applying the force tosaid toggle'levers to the best advantage.

The operation of the invention is as follows: Normally the two basketswill be stored within convenient reach, so as to be readily accessiblewhen required. One of the ropes will be wound on the Windlass and theother will be neatly folded or coiled so that it may be dropped to theground, the basket serving to carry it down. The person desiring toescape enters the upper basket and lowers himself by slacking the cord 0sufficiently to cause his descent at a moderate speed. Obviously, fromthe construction hereinbefore stated the descent of one basket willcause the rising of the other, and vice versa. The descent may beregulated by the person in the basket or by a person on the ground.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

1. In a fire-escape, the combination, with the Windlass, the ropeadapted to be wound op said Windlass and provided with abasket,

and the brake-wheel, of the brake-levers provided at their upper endswith brake-shoes, which are adapted to press on the brake-wheel atdiametrically-opposite points, the togglelcvers con nectin gthebrake-levers, the weight ed lever M, connected with the saidtogglelevers and connected to normally hold the brake-shoes from thebrake-wheel, and the weight 0, connected with the said lever M andadapted to apply the brake, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fire-escape, tlle'conibination of a shaft having a Windlass ateach end, a brakewheel secured centrally on the said shaft, thebrake-levers having brakeshoes at their upper ends that are adapted tobear on the brake-wheel at diametrically-opposite points,

the toggle-levers connecting the brake-levers,

